Julia Buchanan is a creative entrepreneur working at the intersection of art, entrepreneurship and access. A graduate of the Michaelis School of Fine Art with a BA in Painting, she is the founder of Art School Africa, a non-profit organisation supporting emerging artists and aspiring arts professionals across the continent, as well as the advisory firm Buchanan & Co. She is also co-curator at Magugu House in Cape Town and serves on the advisory boards of the Art Initiative Group at the Center for African Studies at Harvard University and Mbari Kola in Lagos, Nigeria.
Julia holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship and an MA in Cultural Leadership from the Royal Academy of Arts in London and Maastricht University in 2024. Earlier in her career, she worked across museums, galleries and cultural institutions, including an internship at Zeitz MOCAA and as part of the opening team at the Norval Foundation. Across these roles, her work is focused on expanding access to education, mentorship and new markets, helping art practitioners build sustainable careers while connecting new audiences with contemporary art from Africa.

It was so special to get time with Julia in my studio to paint a shell.  When I think of Julia, I think of her signature red lipstick and she makes me want to wear my red lipstick more often ( or everyday like i used to pre kids!) and I'm thrilled that she went for this red Coraly colour on her beautiful shell! Dankie!

Dimensions: 22 x 19cm
Every shell is wired by George Magaso, ready to hang directly on the wall from a nail.

@juliadianabuchanan
@artschoolafrica
https://www.artschoolafrica.com/